“Local voices matter, and agricultural producers play an important role in shaping how federal farm programs serve their communities,” said FSA Administrator Bill Beam. “With nominations now open for FSA county committees, producers have an opportunity to put Farmers First by ensuring local farmers and ranchers have a voice in program delivery.” ? 

Elections for committee members will occur in certain Local Administrative Areas (LAA). LAAs are FSA committee elective areas in a single county or multi-county?jurisdiction?and may include LAAs that are focused on an urban or suburban area.???? ? 

Producers interested in serving on the FSA county committee can locate their LAA at fsa.usda.gov/coc?and?determine?if their LAA is up for election by contacting their local FSA office.?? 

Agricultural producers may be nominated for candidacy for the county committee if they: ?? 

Participate or cooperate in a USDA program.?? 

Reside?in the LAA that is up for election this year.?????? 

A cooperating producer is someone who has provided information about their farming or ranching operation to FSA, even if they have not applied or received program benefits.??? 

Individuals may nominate themselves or others and qualifying organizations may also nominate candidates. USDA encourages all eligible producers to nominate, vote and hold office.????? 

Nationwide, more than 7,700 dedicated members of the agriculture community serve on FSA county committees. The committees are made up of three to 11 members who serve three-year terms. Committee members play a key role in how FSA delivers disaster recovery, conservation,?commodity?and price support programs, as well as making decisions on county office employment and other agricultural issues.???  

More Information?????? 

Producers should contact their local FSA office today to learn more about their county’s election. To be considered, a producer must sign?an?FSA-669A?nomination form. This form and other information about FSA county committee elections are available at?fsa.usda.gov/coc.???? 

All nomination forms for the 2026 election must be postmarked or received in the local USDA Service Center by the Aug. 3, 2026, deadline. Election ballots will be mailed to eligible voters in November 2026.??? 

Included in the 29 county area to be assessed are Andrew, Holt, Nodaway and Worth counties.

 Beginning Tuesday, June 23, five teams will verify documented damage to determine if Public Assistance can be requested through FEMA. Public Assistance allows local governments and qualifying nonprofit agencies to seek federal assistance for reimbursement of emergency response and recovery costs, including repair and replacement of damaged roads, bridges and other public infrastructure. Both state and county thresholds would need to be met in order for a county to be included in the request.

Senator Ricketts staff members will be visiting Pawnee County on Wednesday, July 1, making a stop at the Pawnee City Library, located at 735, 8th Street from 1 – 2 p.m.

During the Mobile Office Hours, stops, Ricketts’ staff will be on-site to assist Nebraskans with their casework needs.
If Nebraskans can’t get an answer in a timely manner or feel they have been treated unfairly, Ricketts and his staff may be able to help resolve the issue or help them get in touch with the correct people.

During a stop in Falls City Friday, Stille told MSC News she is introducing herself to voters. Stille was raised in South Sioux City, Nebraska and has 4 children and 5 grandchildren.

She worked for businesses in the agricultural sector says one of her priorities will be listening to the citizens of the 3rd Congressional District.

Stille says representatives need to hear the voices of their constituents and represent their needs.

Stille lives near South Sioux City and says she is ready to fight for Nebraska's farmers and working families and build a movement that fights for lower grocery bills, affordability and lower health care costs.

For more information on Becky Stille go to her website: www.beckystille2026.com.

According to a release from the City of Atchison, 13th Street between Commercial and Main is closed through Friday, June 26th, while Evergy and MGP complete utility upgrades and maintenance at their plant.

The city is asking drivers to use alternate routes and exercise caution in the area as crews finish their work.

Credit: City of Atchison/Facebook

Shortly after 11:00, officers responded to the the 700 block of Kansas Avenue.

According to a release from Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson, a 2018 Buick Encore, driven by 72-year-old Rhonda Shell of Atchison, was pulling into a parking stall when it struck the boy, who was riding his bicycle through the lot.

The child was transported to Atchison’s Amberwell Hospital by Atchison County EMS for treatment of his injuries.

According to social media posts made by the child's family, his injuries included scrapes & bruises, along with soreness, but is recovering well.

(KNZA)--The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office has launched a new county-wide community notification system designed to keep residents informed during emergencies.

The platform, known as Hyper-Reach, will continue providing emergency alerts from the Sheriff’s Office while also giving residents the option to receive weather notifications.

Officials say one of the system’s biggest advantages is its ability to send targeted alerts to specific areas of Jackson County. Instead of notifying the entire county about every incident, Hyper-Reach can direct messages only to residents in the affected area.

For example, if an emergency occurs in the southeastern portion of the county, only residents in that region would receive an alert, while those elsewhere in the county would not be notified unnecessarily.

The Sheriff’s Office says the targeted approach will deliver faster, more relevant information to those who need it most while reducing unwanted alerts for residents outside the affected area.

Photo Credit: Seneca Pony Express Museum

(KMZA)--The Seneca Pony Express Museum will be part of the 2026 Kansas Sunflower Summer program, giving eligible Kansas families free admission to explore one of the state's most iconic pieces of history.

Located in Seneca, the museum tells the story of the legendary Pony Express mail service and highlights the community's important role in connecting the nation during the frontier era. Through exhibits and artifacts, visitors can learn about the riders, relay stations, and lasting impact of the Pony Express on the American West.

The Sunflower Summer program provides free admission to participating attractions for Kansas students in Pre-K through 12th grade, along with one accompanying adult. Families can redeem tickets through the Sunflower Summer app during the 2026 season, which runs July 9 through August 2.

Museum leaders say the program offers a great opportunity for families to experience history firsthand, while Kansas Tourism officials say it helps families discover the stories, places, and communities that make Kansas unique.

The Board also voted to approved the preliminary budget for the 2026-27 school year at the same level as the final 25-26 school budget when they met Wednesday evening.

Board members voted to increase the full price lunch and breakfast meals by 10-cents for the new school year. Student lunches will increased to $3.05 and $4.75 for adults.

The students full price breakfast will be $1.90 with the price for adults increasing to $2.50.

Bids were awarded for milk products for the next school year to Hiland. Bread bids were awarded to Gold Star Foods.

An alternative method of instruction plan for the 2026-27 school year was approved as presented.

In other business the Board voted to approve the Student, Parent and Pre-K Handbooks as presented. The Employee Manual with changes was also approved.

Kanza Mental Health, which serves the local Kansas counties of Brown, Doniphan, Jackson, and Nemaha, will use the funding to build a formal partnership with the Northeast Kansas Multi-County Health Departments. The collaboration is designed to expand access to preventative and primary care services, increase health screenings and referrals, and better coordinate behavioral health and public health resources for residents across the region.

Kanza CEO Krista Eylar, in a release, says the partnership represents a new direction for rural care delivery in northeast Kansas, connecting behavioral health, public health, and primary care services under a more coordinated system. Eylar says the goal is not to replace existing providers, but to close service gaps and reduce fragmentation for individuals most at risk.

The grant period runs through the next year, with Kanza and the NEK Multi-County Health Departments working to establish the formal structure of the partnership.

Dr. Joselyn Heiman/Credit: NVCH

(KMZA)--Nemaha Valley Community Hospital has announced an addition to its future medical team.

Dr. Joselyn Heiman, formerly known as Joselyn Schmitz, has officially signed her recruitment agreement with the hospital.

Dr. Heiman is currently committed to completing a three-year residency through the Smoky Hill Family Medicine Residency Program. Once her training is complete, she will return home to join providers at Seneca Family Practice.

Hospital leadership says the agreement represents an important investment in strengthening rural healthcare. Hospital CEO Kiley Floyd emphasized the value of supporting physicians who understand small-town medicine and are committed to serving rural communities long-term. “We are incredibly excited to welcome Dr. Heiman back to our community,” Floyd said. “Investing in providers who understand rural healthcare and have a passion for serving small communities is incredibly important to the future of healthcare at NVCH.”

Hospital officials say they look forward to Dr. Heiman’s return and her future role in expanding access to care in the Seneca area.

Teddy Moore/Credit: Jackson County Sheriff's Office

(KNZA)--A jury trial has been scheduled in Jackson County for a Topeka man accused of sex crimes involving a child.

Fifty-eight-year-old Teddy Moore pleaded not guilty last month to two counts of rape and two counts of aggravated criminal sodomy after waiving his preliminary hearing.

Court records show a four-day jury trial is now set to begin September 29th in Jackson County District Court.

Moore was arrested in March on a Jackson County warrant following an investigation that began in July 2025 by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department.

Authorities say the alleged offenses involve a child under the age of 14 and are reported to have occurred in January 2018.

Moore remains in the Jackson County Jail on a one-million-dollar bond.

(KMZA)--The Seneca City Council has approved a pay raise for City Administrator Steve Brooks.

Following an executive session during Wednesday night's meeting, council members voted to increase Brooks' annual salary by $5,000, bringing it to $115,000. Brooks has served as city administrator since June of 2023.

In other action, the council approved hiring two journeyman linemen for the city's Electrical Utilities Department. Troy Lay will earn $48 an hour, while Gary McGuire will be paid $45 an hour.

The council also approved a new employee health insurance package that's to reduce overall premium costs by about 27 percent and tabled action on the purchase of a new fire truck until its next meeting.

(KNZA)--The Jackson County Commission is moving ahead with plans that could significantly extend the life of the county landfill.

During the June 8 commission meeting, Environmental Services Superintendent Darlene Selley and BG Consultants engineer Brian Foster outlined options for expanding the landfill's current construction and demolition waste cell.

Officials say the existing cell has about five years of remaining capacity. However, a proposed vertical expansion could extend that lifespan to roughly 20 years.

The project would involve building a berm and raising the landfill by approximately 20 feet. Foster told commissioners that the Kansas Department of Health and Environment recently identified some water seepage during an inspection, but has approved the proposed expansion. He noted that additional state approval could be required if a new catch pond is needed as part of the project.

Foster, who helped design the landfill's original engineering plan in 2006, said the facility is currently operating in Phase Three of a four-phase development plan. He estimated engineering costs at just over $38,500.

Under the proposal, the county Road and Bridge Department would construct the berm, although officials have not yet determined where the necessary fill dirt will come from.

Commissioners were told that sufficient money is available in the landfill's capital outlay budget to cover the engineering costs.

Commission Chairman Mark Pruett voiced support for the 20-year expansion option, and the commission reached a consensus to move forward with planning for the project.

(KNZA)--Residents of Doniphan County will soon have a chance to own a special piece of history celebrating America's 250th birthday.

The Doniphan County Commission has approved the purchase of 250 commemorative coins marking the nation's 250th anniversary. During Monday's meeting, commissioners announced plans to place raffle boxes at locations throughout the county, giving residents an opportunity to enter a drawing for one of the coins.

The drawing will be conducted by county commissioners, with the 250 winners set to be announced on July 13th.

Residents who are not selected in the drawing will still have the option to purchase a commemorative coin. The county also plans to acquire one numbered coin for permanent display at the Doniphan County Courthouse in Troy.

The commemorative coin program is part of local efforts to recognize the United States' 250th anniversary celebration.

Parking issues between neighbors in the 900 block of Morton Street and a property on East 17th Street that has been deemed a nuisance property has caused unrest among individuals in that neighborhood.

Monday night City Administrator Gary Jorn said the City is trying to work with the property owner Mark Galaska to get the property brought up to standards, noting the recently he and Police Chief Jamie Baker had met with Galaska and reviewed the property explaining further what needs to be done.

During the April 6, city council meeting, Galaska was given two months to clean up his property or was warned the City would come in and do it. Jorn said it appears some progress has been made. No action has been taken by city officials against the property owner at this time.

The street parking issues in the 900 block of Morton Street have come before the Council several times in recent months which has led City officials to look at how many times a topic must be allowed to come before the Council.

Jorn noted the Nebraska Open Meetings Act, requires a government body to allow the public time to speak on topics, at some meetings, but not every meeting, with the Mayor having the authority to set the rules and allotted time for the presentation.

There was no action by the Council on the Morton Street parking issue Monday night.

Ron Kelly who lives in the 1600 block of Fulton Street addressed the Council seeking a restriction on parking on 17th Street and Fulton Street and north of 21st Street on Fulton Street. His concerns were emergency vehicles being able to travel between vehicles parked on both sides of the street. No action was taken.

Council members did approve a an amendment in terms of an agreement with Olsson concerning the contract for a Transmission Line and Substation Planning and Engineering Project.

A Master Agreement work order for the Nebraska Plant Feeder Structure replacement project was also approved with Olsson. The current wooden structure near the power plant will be replaced.

Council members also met in closed session to discuss personnel.

The request includes Buffalo, Fillmore, Gage, Howard, Jefferson, Nemaha, Thayer and Thurston counties. Reported damage included downed power poles and lines, as well as damage to schools, buildings, and roadways. Debris cleanup was significant in some counties following the storms. Emergency shelters were also necessary in areas where individuals had been displaced. Damage estimates now exceed $4.9 million.

In addition to the disaster declaration request, Gov. Pillen has also requested access to the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which provides funding to governmental entities, allowing them to rebuild in ways that will reduce or mitigate future disaster losses. Approval would allow the state to apply for such grants.

This is the second federal disaster declaration request that the Governor has made in as many months.

John Calhoon/Credit: County of Atchison

(KAIR)--A late July hearing is scheduled in Atchison County District Court over whether a sitting county commissioner can also serve as a law enforcement officer in a neighboring county.

The case will be heard the afternoon of Wednesday, July 29th.

At issue is whether Commissioner John Calhoon can simultaneously serve as the Atchison County District 2 Commissioner and as Undersheriff of the Jackson County Sheriff's Office.

Atchison County Attorney Sherri Becker has filed a motion for judgment on the pleadings, arguing the dual service violates a state statute that prohibits a person from holding a county office while also serving as a county commissioner. Calhoon has admitted in court filings that he holds both positions at the same time. Becker contends the facts are not in dispute, and the only remaining question is whether the law bars the arrangement.

Becker has also asked the court to put discovery on hold while the judgment motion is pending, arguing that additional fact-finding is unnecessary since Calhoon does not deny serving in both roles.

(KLZA)--One person is dead after an agricultural aircraft crashed in Holt County, Missouri.

According to the Holt County Sheriff's Office, authorities received an emergency call shortly after 9 p.m. Monday reporting that an Air Tractor crop-dusting plane may have gone down near 34845 Unity Road.

Multiple law enforcement and emergency response agencies searched the area for more than six hours Monday night but were unable to locate the aircraft. The search resumed Tuesday morning, and the plane was quickly found from the air.

Authorities say the pilot, 23-year-old Cael David Schmitz of Preston, Missouri, was found in the cockpit and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Assisting in the search were the South Holt Fire Department, Missouri Department of Conservation, Andrew County Sheriff's Office, Missouri State Highway Patrol, first responders from across the Missouri River in Kansas, and private citizens.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of the crash. The Holt County Sheriff's Office and the Holt County Coroner's Office are investigating the death.

(KMZA)--A Seneca woman was injured in a single-vehicle rollover crash this past weekend in Nemaha County.

According to the Nemaha County Sheriff's Office, 26-year-old Emilie Becker was driving north on O Road, south of 136th Road, shortly before 3:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon when she lost control of her SUV on the gravel roadway.

The vehicle rolled after Becker lost control.

Becker was transported to Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka for treatment of unspecified injuries.

(KNZA)--The Doniphan County Commission heard concerns Monday from a group of county residents regarding the ongoing bridge replacement project on 240th Road west of Highland.

Residents told commissioners the bridge has been closed for nearly four years, calling the lengthy closure unacceptable and urging the county to complete the project as soon as possible.

The group said it would like to see the bridge reopened by August 1.

Commissioners acknowledged the residents' frustration and thanked those who attended the meeting. They reiterated that the county is continuing to work toward completing the bridge replacement project and reopening the roadway as quickly as possible.

In other business, KANZA Mental Health and Guidance Center CEO Krista Eylar presented the commission with the agency's 2026 mental health services contract and a 2027 budget request totaling 44-thousand-200 dollars.

Eylar also reviewed service caseloads for Doniphan County residents and announced that KANZA has received a grant of more than 1-point-35 million dollars from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The funding will support a partnership with Northeast Kansas Multi-County Health Departments aimed at strengthening rural health care services.

Commissioners tabled action on the 2026 contract and 2027 budget request pending further review during preparation of the county's 2027 budget.

The commission also unanimously approved the appointment of Peggy Libel of Wathena to the KANZA Mental Health and Guidance Center Board of Directors.

A letter of resignation was received from Mayor Novak Tuesday morning and on Wednesday the City Clerk's Office acknowledged receipt of the letter and informed City Council members.

Clerk Kirkpatrick also notified Council President Theresa Westfall that she is now the Acting Mayor of Peru.

Acting Mayor Westfall has called for a special session of the Peru City Council for Monday, June 22nd, at 6:00pm to formally accept Mayor Novak’s resignation.

An attempt to recall Novak launched in October of 2025 failed, falling three votes short of the required number to place the recall on the ballot.

Novak has served as Mayor of Peru since November, 2024.

Further inquiries, may be made by contacting the City Clerk’s office via email or via phone during business hours.

The report indicates an eastbound pickup, driven by a 19-year-old woman from Maryville, Missouri crossed the center line into the westbound lane of traffic making contact with a westbound minivan.

The driver of the minivan, a 47-year-old female and a passenger, a 23-year-old female were both transported by the Atchison Holt Ambulance to Mosaic Life Care in Maryville for treatment of injuries.

The driver of the pickup was not injured.

All of the vehicle occupants were wearing safety device at the time of the wreck.

The Atchison County Sheriff's Department and Fairfax Rural Fire Department both responded to he scene.

With City Public Works Director Trevor Campbell gone to a meeting, City Administrator Gary Jorn outlined the proposal to the Council, noting that following the most recent extended power outage the decision was made to suggest moving forward with the audit.

The high cost is in part because the engineers doing the audit are from Wartsilla which is a foreign company and require their own personnel to do such work. Third party companies used by the City to do work at the power plant are not allowed to do work on the engine.

Getting the engine on line to produce energy has been an issue for the City. Jorn said he thinks there have been multiple issues that have contributed to the problems, including not enough exercising of the machine in the past as is done now, along with a lack of operational knowledge. Jorn said repairs could run into the range of $200,000.

The Council voted 6-0 to move forward with the audit. Council members Derek Leyden and Frank Killingsworth were absent from the meeting.

Kanza Mental Health, which serves the local Kansas counties of Brown, Doniphan, Jackson, and Nemaha, will use the funding to build a formal partnership with the Northeast Kansas Multi-County Health Departments. The collaboration is designed to expand access to preventative and primary care services, increase health screenings and referrals, and better coordinate behavioral health and public health resources for residents across the region.

Kanza CEO Krista Eylar says the partnership represents a new direction for rural care delivery in northeast Kansas, connecting behavioral health, public health, and primary care services under a more coordinated system. Eylar says the goal is not to replace existing providers, but to close service gaps and reduce fragmentation for individuals most at risk.

The grant period runs through the next year, with Kanza and the NEK Multi-County Health Departments working to establish the formal structure of the partnership.